[Retinal circulation times as determined by fluorescein angiography (author's transl)]

Using a standardized technique of rapid fluorescein angiography applying a special diaphragm in the camera to reduce the patient stress by the frequent flashes and an automatic dye injection retinal circulation times of 173 healthy eyes were measured and statistically analysed. Circulation time was defined as the time interval between first visible arterial and venous fluorescence of corresponding vessels near the disc margin. The circulation time for the temporal vessels (1.1--1.2 s) was significantly faster than that of the nasal vessels (1.3 s) whereas there was no significant difference between the upper and lower main vessels. The very short circulation times are caused by short circuits near the disc. The difference between the shorter temporal and longer nasal times is caused by the macular circulation. It would therefore be more accurate to speak of peripapillary circulation times or of circulation times of the posterior pole of the fundus.